Pitless well adapter



Feb. 28, 1967 c. c. wlLLlAMs 3,306,358

PITLESS WELL ADAPTER Filed Aug. 26, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. CLIFFORD C. WILLlAMS ATTO RN EY C. C. WILLIAMS PITLEss WELL ADAPTER Feb. 28, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 26, 1964 INVENTOR. CLIFFORD C.WILL|AMS BY 7M Z? m ATTORNEY Filed Aug. ze, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 if n AIV M H QZ l /52 75 2 9 |-i5 e /50 ci@ @g i l., l L; l 72 A A 66 Yr; /50 73 84 #52 FTS IO INVENTOR. CLIFFORD QWILLIAMS ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,306,358 PITLESS WELL ADAPTER Clifford C. Williams, 20 Henderson Ave., Joliet, Ill. 60432 Filed Aug. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 392,121 7 Claims. (Cl. 166-89) This invention relates to improvements in pitless well adapters, and more particularly to an adapter making it possible to connect a discharge line from a pump to a well casing below ground level for connection in turn to an underground delivery conduit.

Various types of pitless well adapters have been provided heretofore. Some of these adapters have been subje-ct to leakage of ground water or surface water into the well casing at the point at which the pump discharge line passes through the well casing so as to constitute a hazard to health due to the possibility of contamination. In this connection, since the leakage is inward from the surrounding soil into the Well casing, no means exist by which the undesired leaking condition can be detected.

It is the object of this invention to provide means for assured detection of any leak point in a well casing at the portion at which an adapter or connector emerges from a well casing by defining a pressurized zone in communication with the pressurized water delivery passage of the adapter or connector, so that any opening in the well casing at which leakage occurs will be subjected to ow of liquid therethrough in an outward direction which can be detected and which will automatically exclude contaminants.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawings:

' FIG. 1 is a fragmentary Vertical sectional View of a well casing provided with an adapter constituting one ernbodiment of my invention;

FIG, 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical detail sectional view taken on line 3 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating a modification of my improved adapter for use in connection with pumps requiring both a suction line and a delivery line;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 7 7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken on line 9 9 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on line 10 10 of FIG. 8.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates a well casing which carries at its lower end (not shown) a drive point or other reticulated member to permit entry of water into the lower end of the well casing.

The upper end of the casing 10 may extend to any desired elevation relative to ground level and usually terminates slightly above ground level. The upper end of the well casing is provided with a suitable closure 12 of any suitable character which has a sealed fit therewith so as to prevent entry of surface water or contaminants. Suitable means (not shown) may be provided for entry through the cap 12 of electrical conductors as required 3,386,358 Patented Feb. 28, 1967 ICCY for the operation of submerged pumps (not shown) or other types of pumps within the well casing. T-he well casing is provided with an opening 14 spaced below its upper end and spaced below ground level and at the level at which a water delivery line 16 extends from the well casing to a storage tank or the like.

A drop pipe 20 within the well casing is connected with a pump (not shown) and extends to a point adjacent to the opening 14 in the well casing. At the upper end of the drop pipe 20 is connected one part 22 of a two-part connector whose second part 24 is carried by the well casing 10 at the opening 14. A lift pipe 26 is connected to and extends upwardly in the casing 10 and provides means by which the part 22 may be manipulated in assembling and disassembling the parts of the connector. Pipe 20 has a pressure retaining automatic check valve 21 therein.

The connector part 24 constitutes a hanger which fits against or is adjacent to well casing 10 at and around the opening 14 thereof, and is provided at its casing confronting surfac'e with a groove in which is mounted a gasket ring 28 which bears against the well casing 10 continuously around the opening 14 in the well casing. The hanger connector part 24 has a central passage 30 therethrough with which communicates a lateral tubular projection part 32 fitting with clearance in the opening 14 and which may constitute a nipple screw-threaded in the outer enlarged part of the passage 30. An outer gasket ring 34 encircles the lateral tubular projection 32 and engages the outer surface of the well casing around the opening 14. A follower ring 36 encircles tubular projection 32 and engages the outer gasket ring 34 to compress the latter as it is urged toward the well casing 10 by a compression member 38 screw-threaded on tubular part 32. A union 40 or other suitable coupling member serves to connect the outer end of the tubular projection 32 -with the delivery pipe 16.

The inner face of the hanger part 24 is preferably beveled or inclined at 42 and preferably has a vertical dovetail 44.

The connector part 22 has an L-shaped passage 46 which communicates with the drop pipe 20 and with the passage 30 in the hanger connector part 24 at a lateral projection 48 thereof. The lateral projection 48 of connector part 22 has a releasable interlocking connection with the hanger part 24 which is defined by a dovetail groove 40 extending substantially vertically and snugly v and slidably receives the dovetail 44 of the hanger part 24. Any suitable means may be provided to insure connection of the parts 22 and 24 with the passages 28 and 46 thereof substantially aligned in the normal or operative connected position of the parts at which the part 22 and the parts suspended therefrom, such as the drop pipe 20, are supported by the lhanger part 24. An annular sealing ring 54 is preferably mounted in a recess in the interlocking face of one of the connector parts 22, 24 and encircles one of the registering passages 30, 46 to insure against leakage at the point of connection of the parts 22 and 24.

Constructions of the character described -above are substantially conventional and depend for safety upon the efficiency and effectiveness of the gaskets 28 and 34. As the parts are lassembled prior to back-filling of earth 'around the delivery pipe 16, the lateral tubular projection 32, the nut 38, the follower ring 36 and the outer gasket ring 34, there is no -means by which the efiicacy of the seal of the well casing 14 can be ascertained. Thus, if in fact leakage does occur .at the gasket rings 28 and 34, permitting the ow of water from the earth Iaround the wel-l casing into the interior of the well casing through 4the opening 14, that leakage cannot be detected. Thus contamination can occur and continue for long periods of time to the detriment of the health of users of the water from the well.

I have found that occurrence of contamination at a pitless well adapter of this construction may be detected and, if it occurs without detection, maybe prevented from entering the well by the expedient of forming an aperture 56 in the lateral projection 32 of the connector part 24 in communication with the opening 14 in the well casing between the inner gasket ring 28 and the outer gasket ring 34. This serves to place the two gasket rings under internal pressure, depending upon the pressure existing within the delivery pipe 16, the `drop pipe 20` and the passages 30 and 46. It will be apparent that by the provision of the aperture 56 it is possible to test the assembly for leakage at the gaskets 24 and 28 prior to back-filling of soil around the delivery pipe after the connection between the delivery pipe 16 and the drop pipe 20` in the well casing has been completed through the assembly of and interconnection of the connector parts 22 and 24. Thus by causing operation of the pump to deliver water in the system to the delivery pipe 16 before the backiilling operation occurs and before the cap 12 is applied, it is possible to detect leakage if the gasket rings 28 and 34 do not seal effectively against leakage. Furthermore, by virtue of the provision of the aperture 56, it will be apparent that, if leakage should develop after the water system has been in use, the existence of line pressure in the pipes 16 and 20 and the passages 30, 46 will 'be transmitted through the aperture 56 and applied interiorly to the gasket rings 28 and 34. System pressure will normally exceed the pressure of ground water in the soil surrounding the well casing and, consequently, any leakage which might exist will extend in an outward direction and thereby insure against entry of contaminants from the soil into the well casing.

The invention is applicable to pitless well adapters for use with jet type pumps 'by Aa construction thereof as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Jet pump installations require a suction pipe or delivery line 60 and a pressure line 62 exteriorly of the well casing and in communication with a suction or delivery pipe 64 and a pressure pipe 66 within the well casing and leading to a jet pump (not shown). To 'accommodate this arrangement a two-part connector or adapter is provided having the suspended adapter part 68 and the hanger adapter part 70. The adapter part 70 includes the lateral tubular projection 72 adapted for connection with the delivery pipe 60, as by means of a union or other connector 74 and the lateral tubular projection 76 adapted for connection with the pressure pipe 62 by the union or connector 78. The well casing is provided with la pair of spaced apertures 73 and 75 through which the lateral tubular projections 72 and 76, respectively, pass. Inner gaskets 80 are interposed between the outer surface of the hanger adapter part 70 and the well casing around each of the apertures 73 and 75, and outer gasket rings 82 encircle each of the lateral tubular projections 72 and 74 to bear against the outer surface of the well casing 10 around the adjacent one of the apertures 73 Iand 75. Follower rings 84 bear against the respective outer gaskets 82 and compression nuts 86 threaded on each of the lateral projections 72 and 76 force the follower rings 84 to press the outer gasket rings 82 into sealing engagement with the casing wall land also to draw outwardly the hanger adapter part 70 so as to compress each of the inner gasket rings 80. The hanger adapter part 70 includes passage 88 therethrough communicating with the suction line 60 and passage 90 therethrough communicating with a pressure line 62.

The suspended adapter part 68 has a passage 92 of L-shape extending therethrough and having connection at one end with the inner suction pipe 64 and adapted for communicating alignment with the suction passage 88 in the hanger adapter part 70. The suspended adapter part also has the L-shaped pressure passage 94 therethrough with which the inner pressure pipe 66 is connected at one end and whose opposite end if adapted for communicating registration with the pressure passage 90.

The adapter parts 68, 70 have confronting, preferably inclined, tongue and groove releasable interconnection means 96 of substantially the same construction previously described, permitting assembly and disassembly of the adapter by lowering or lifting of the suspended .part 68, as by manipulating li-ft pipe 26. An -annular gasket 9S surrounds the joint or connection between the passages 88 and 92 at the tongue and groove connection, and an annular gasket 99 surrounds the connection between the passages and 94 at the tongue and groove connection.

Adapters of the character above described are substantially conventional and lack means for detection of the existence of leakage into the well casing 10 at the apertures 73 and 75 in the same respects discussed above, so that they are subject to undetected contamination of a well due to flow of ground water into the well casing at such leaks, I have found that such contaminating leakage into a well casing can be prevented in such constructions by providing within the hanger adapter part 70 a passage 100 which communicates with the passage 90, that is, the pressure passage in the adapter part, and which has communication at 102 with the aperture 73 of the Well casing between the inner gasket 80 and outer gasket 82. Passage 100 also has communication at 104 with the aperture 7S in the well casing to which the tubular projection 76 extends. By this arrangement the interior of each of the gasket rings 80 and 82 is subjected to liquid pressure at the pressure existing in `the pressure lines 62, 66. Consequently, -any leakage which occurs 4must be directed outwardly rather than inwardly to achieve the advantages described above with re-ference to the embodiment of the invention `illustrated in FIG. 1.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. In this construction a well casing 110 has a vertically elongated opening 112 therein below ground level and adjacent the level at which the delivery pipe 114 is located. Drop pipe 116 in the well casing connects the pump (not shown) with a connector or adapter 118 at one end of a passage 120 which is of inverted U-shape. A lift pipe 122 projects upwardly from the connector 118 within the well casing. The connector 118 is positioned adjacent the opening 112 and is adapted' to extend therethrough.

A hanger unit 124 is secured to the well casing and includes a. closure which preferably constitutes a boxlike structure 126 spanning the opening 112 of the well casing and having an open side conforming to the contour of the well casing and marginally welded at 128 to the well casing completely around the opening 112. The structure 126 has an opening therethrough in which an angle fitting 130 is mounted, the same being welded at 132 completely therearound at the opening through which it passes. The hanger unit 124 is preferably prefabricated so that only the weld 128 need be performed in the lield. The fitting 130 has an inner upturned end portion 134 which preferably is beveled at its upper end and which fits within the downturned end portion 136 of the connector 118. An annular seal 138, such as an O-ring, carried by one of the telescoping intertitting parts 134, 136 provides a seal at the connection therebetween. The arrangement is such that the connector 118 is supported and suspended by the fitting 130 of the hanger unit.

An outer boxlike structure 139 fits with clearance around the unit 126 and is marginally welded to the well casing at 140 at an open edge at which it is substantially in continuous contact with the well casing. The outer box structure 139 has an aperture encircling the fitting 130, and the fitting 130 is welded to the outer box structure at 142 in the field. A union or connector 144 connects the end of the fitting 130 which projects beyond the outer boxlike structure to the delivery part 114. The boxlli- Structures 126 and 139 cooperate to detine a chamber externally of the well casing through which the fitting 130 passes. An aperture 146 is formed in the part of the fitting 130 which passes through that chamber, that is, which is located between the inner structure 126 and the outer structure 139.

The chamber between the structures 126 and 139 is filled with water in the operation -of the pump system, which water is at the pressure in the system. Thus, if any leak occurs at welds 128, 132, 140, 142, which would permit ground water and contaminants to enter the well casing, such entry is precluded by the pressure of liquid within the chamber, i.e., the system pressure, which causes leakage or flow in an outward direction which can be detected prior to back-filling around the well casing and the delivery pipe and prior to application of a cap to the well casing by simple observation after operating the pump to build up system pressure.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, which constitutes a slight variation of the construction illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. To the extent that the parts in this embodiment are similar to those appearing in FIGS. 4 and 5, they bear the same reference numerals. The principal difference in this embodiment of the invention, as compared to the embodiment in FIGS. 4 and 5, occurs at the hanger adapter part 70. The pipe confrontingy face of the adapter part 70 is sealed by two gasket rings. One gasket ring 150 encircles a lateral tubular projection '72 which is connected to the delivery conduit 60. A second gasket ring 152 of larger size extends around the ring 150 in spaced relation and then extends around the tubular projection 76. The tubular projection 76 has an aperture 154 therein which places the chambers at the apertures 73 and 75 under internally applied pressure to accomplish the purpose served by the passages 100, 102 and 104 in the FIG. 4 construction, which passages are omitted in the FIG. 8 construction.

It will be apparent that all embodiments of the invention are characterized by hanger adapter units supported or anchored at the well casing at an opening or openings therein which are normally sealed, and by the provision of a chamber around an adapter part defining a passage connecting a drop pipe and the delivery line. The chamber is open into communication with the passage so as to pressurize the chamber to system pressure and thus insures that, if leakage occurs, it will be outward in direction to preclude entry of contaminants rather than inward, and thereby will be easily detectable.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that changes in the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a well a well casing having an opening spaced below its upper end,

a conduit in said casing connected to a pump,

a delivery line adjacent to said casing opening,

a two-part adapter including a hanger unit and a supported unit,

said hanger unit including a part spanning said casing opening and a part defining a passage and connected to said delivery line,

said hanger unit cooperating with said well casing to define a chamber surrounding said passage-defining part, and means providing a sealed supporting connection between said hanger unit and said supported unit,

said supported unit supporting said conduit and having a passage communicating at `one end with the passage otf said hanger unit and at its opposite end with said conduit,

said passage defining part of said hanger unit having an aperture communicating with said chamber.

2. A well as defined in claim 1, wherein a pair of seals engage the inner and outer surfaces of said well casing around the opening thereof,

said seals being exposed internally to pressure of water within said chamber.

3. A well as defined in claim 1, wherein said passage defining part of said hanger units passes through said casing opening with clearance, and

anchor means are carried by said passage defining part of said hanger unit externally of said well casing yand cooperates with inner and outer seals to define said chamber.

4. A well as defined in claim 1, wherein said .adapter part connecting means include interfitting tongue -and groove parts,

one of said tongue and groove parts having a recess mounting a gasket ring engaging the other part around one of said communicating passages.

5. A well-as defined in claim 1, wherein pressure and suction lines in said casing are connected to a pump,

pressure and suction delivery lines are located externally of said casing adjacent to said opening,

said adapter parts having communicating passages connecting said internal and external pressure lines of said internal and external suction lines,

said casing having spaced apertures receiving passage defining parts of said hanger unit and defining spaced compartments, and

passage means in said h-anger unit establishing communication of both compartments with the passage connecting said internal and external pressure lines.

6. A well as defined in claim 1, wherein said hanger adapter unit includes a closure Welded to said well casing around said opening and a fitting carried thereby and terminating in an upturned end,

said supported adapter unit having a downturned end encircling and bearing `on said upturned fitting end, and

a box structure fitting around said closure with clearance and welded marginally to said well c-asing and having a welded connection to said fitting,

said aperture being located in said fitting between the connections of said closure and said box structure to said fitting.

7. In a well,

`a well casing having an opening spaced below its upper end,

a conduit in said casing connected to a pump,

a delivery line adjacent t-o said casing opening,

a two-part adapter including a hanger unit and a supported unit,

said hanger unit being secured to said casing and including a part spanning and closing said casing opening and a tubular part connected to said delivery line and extending through said casing `opening with clearance to 4define 'a closed chamber in said opening around said tubular part,

said supported unit supporting said conduit and having a passage communicating with the tubular part of said h-anger unit and with said conduit,

said tubular part of said hanger unit having an aperture communicating with said chamber.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,960,166 12/1960 Haydin et al. 166-88 3,136,362 6/1964 Baker 166-88 3,183,973 4/1965 Eging l66-89 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

I. A. LEPPINK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A WELL A WELL CASING HAVING AN OPENING SPACED BELOW ITS UPPER END, A CONDUIT IN SAID CASING CONNECTED TO A PUMP, A DELIVERY LINE ADJACENT TO SAID CASING OPENING, A TWO-PART ADAPTER INCLUDING A HANGER UNIT AND A SUPPORTED UNIT, SAID HANGER UNIT INCLUDING A PART SPANNING SAID CASING OPENING AND A PART DEFINING A PASSAGE AND CONNECTED TO SAID DELIVERY LINE, SAID HANGER UNIT COOPERATING WITH SAID WELL CASING TO DEFINE A CHAMBER SURROUNDING SAID PASSAGE-DEFINING PART, AND MEANS PROVIDING A SEALED SUPPORTING CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID HANGER UNIT AND SAID SUPPORTED UNIT, SAID SUPPORTED UNIT SUPPORTING SAID CONDUIT AND HAVING A PASSAGE COMMUNICATING AT ONE END WITH THE PASSAGE OF SAID HANGER UNIT AND AT ITS OPPOSITE END WITH SAID CONDUIT, SAID PASSAGE DEFINING PART OF SAID HANGER UNIT HAVING AN APERTURE COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CHAMBER. 